Kelantan coach Peter Butler has quit on the east coast side for the second time.
The Englishman’s first stint with Kelantan during the 2008-2009 season also ended prematurely, two weeks before the Malaysia Cup kicked off. Butler left, despite having two more months on his one year contract, to join Myanmar club side Yangon United.
Kelantan signed him on again this season on a two-year contract which lasted all of four months.
Trouble flared up two weeks ago when Butler blasted Kelantan FA (Kafa) for interfering with the selection of foreign players. He openly criticised the management after Kelantan’s 2-1 defeat to Selangor in a Super League match on Feb 14.
Kafa then issued Butler a show cause letter for his outburst, telling the 46-year-old coach to take a break to prepare an official explanation before March 8.
However, at a meeting in Kota Baru yesterday, Kafa and Butler decided to end their contract by mutual agreement.
The former West Ham midfielder, who received an undisclosed sum in compensation, issued a short statement on his resignation.
“We have mutually agreed to end my contract with Kelantan,” Butler said. “I’m happy that I have left the team on the top of the league.”
Butler has been linked with Persiba Balikpapan of the Indonesia Super League, a club he coached from 2006-2008.
Former UPB-MyTeam FC coach Bojan Hodak is set to take charge of the Super League champions on a temporary basis.
Hodak, who was appointed CEO of the Kafa football academy last Wednesday, will be registered as the assistant coach for the M-League and the AFC Cup.
Kelantan manager Azman Ibrahim said a new head coach would be named soon.
“We will manage without Butler. The players understand the situation. They can and should be able to concentrate on their game,” said Azman.
“We will register Hodak , who has been training the team for the past few days, as the assistant coach.”
Super League leaders Kelantan face a crunch tie against Negri Sembilan in Kota Baru on March 4 . They will also be making their debut in the AFC Cup, playing Navibank of Saigon in Kota Baru on March 7.
The Red Warriors have yet to hit form but still top the table with17 points.
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